Duplicate bridge scoring machine



Sept. 26, 1961 F. H. FLAM 3,001,703

DUPLICATE BRIDGE SCORING MACHINE Filed April 7, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

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United States Patent 3,001,703 DUPLICATE BRIDGE SCORING MACHINE Frederick H. Flam, Sherman Oaks, Calif. (4510 Callada Place, Tarzana, Calif.) Filed Apr. 7, 1958, Ser. No. 726,740 3 Claims. (Cl. 2335-92) This invention relates to contract bridge, and particularly to apparatus for scoring a duplicate bridge tournament.

A vast majority of duplicate bridge tournaments are scored on the match point basis. The object of match point duplicate bridge is to obtain by skill and/or luck a score, with given cards, better than other competitors. The match point score for a team on any board may be calculated as follows: twice the number of teams playing the same hand that obtained a poorer score, plus one for the number of teams playing the same hand that obtained the same score. After the play of each hand is concluded, the players supply information corresponding to the results obtained on the board. In the past, the scorer assimilated the entire information, assigned match point scores for each board and added up all the match point scores for each board and added up all the match point scores to determine the overall standing of all players in a particular field.

In my prior application Serial No. 691,414, filed October 21, 1957, and entitled Match Point Duplicate Bridge Scorer there is described a machine utilizing a punch card for match point scoring a duplicate tournament. This application is a continuation-in-part of said application.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved machine of this character, and particularly a machine which requires simplified mechanisms for accomplishing the desired results.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine which will automatically assign match points to the appropriate teams in an extremely short space of time. Accordingly, results from any tournament can be made available within several minutes after the conclusion of the tournament.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of one embodiment of the invention. For this purpose, there is shown a form in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the present specification. This form will now be described in detail, illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of this invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring tothe drawings:

' FIGURES l and 2 are diagrammatic views showing the circuits incorporating the present invention.

In FIG. 1 there are illustrated a series of counters I, II, III and IV corresponding to the assigned team number for difierent pairs in a match point duplicate bridge tournament. The counters I, II, III and IV connect with counter lines 19, 11, 12, 13, respectively, that are intersected by pulse bars Pia, Plb, 1 2a, P2b, etc. corresponding to two pulse bars for every team.

In a manner to be hereinafter described, electrical pulses are applied in sequence to the pulse bars P141, Plb, etc. Each counter line is connected to all of the pulse bars Pia, Plb, etc., except two. Thus, the counter line is connected to the pulse bars P211, PZb, P3a, P3b, P4a, P417, etc. But it is not connected to the pulse line Pla, P112, corresponding in position to the team for the corresponding counter. Similarly the counter line 11 for counter II is connected to pulse lines Pla, Plb, P3a, P3b, P4a,'P4b, etc.

. Each counter has a set of relays. The relays of one set "ice are designated 2aI, 2bI, 3aI, Sbl, 4aI and 4b I. The third character 1 denotes that the relays belong to a set for counter No. I. A second set of relays and for counter No. II are designated lall, lbiI, SaII, 3bII, 4aII and 41211. The third set of relays and for counter No. HI are designated laIII, 1bIII, 2aIII, ZbIH, 4aIII and 4bll1. The fourth set of relays and for counter No. IV are designated laIV, 1bIV, ZaIV, ZbIV, 3aIV and 3bIV.

The first two characters in the designation for the relays indicate cooperation with a correspondingly designated pulse line. Thus, there is a family of relays lal], laIII and laIV which cooperate, in a manner to be hereinafter described, with the pulse line Pla.

Each of the connections depends upon a back contact of a relay. Thus, the connection between the counter line 10 and the pulse line P2a proceeds from a connection 15 to a back contact 16 of a relay ZaI to the pulse line P2a. Similiarly, the counter line connects from a connection 17 to aback contact 18 of a relay 2.61 to the pulse line P'Zb. A slave relay is provided for each such connection of the respective counter lines 10, 11, 12, 13 for counters I, II, III and IV.

If there are four teams in play corresponding to teams 1, 2, 3 and 4, the maximum possible match point score on a particular board (in the calculation system above described) will be six (corresponding to twice the number of teams playing the board that o-btaineed a poorer score). The arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1 proceeds on the following system:

There are a series of sweep connections S S S and 5,, associated with the team numbers, or the counters, and that became energized in a sequence depending upon the relative rank of scores for the particular teams. If the sweep connection S for example, is the first to become energized, all of the corresponding slave relays 2aI, ZbI, 3aI, 3bl, 4aI, 4171 for the corresponding team are prevented from further energization in a manner hereinafter to be explained. Accordingly, the connections to the back contacts of the relays 2aI, 2171, 3al, 3bI, 4aI, 4bI are maintained intact and there remain six connections to the counter line 10. This provides the top match point result for the particulm board. This, of course, is consistent with the premise that sweep connection S was first energized. At about the same time, relays laH, 1aIII, lalV, and 12111, 1bIII, IbIV for the remaining teams are energized and held energized so that a count of two is subtracted from the possible score of the succeeding teams, and in a manner hereinafter to be explained.

Now if sweep connection 8;, is next to become energized, the corresponding slave relays not yet energized are precluded from further energization. Thus four slave relays for team 2 will remain unenergized, namely, 3aII, 3bII, 4aII, 4bII, leaving four connections to the counter line '11. The manner in which this is achieved will be explained hereinafter. It will be noted, however, that four relays being held against energization are consistent with the assumption that team No. 2 was second ranking. At about the same time that slave relays 3aII, 3bII, 4alI and 4bII are held deenergized, relays of the Zn and 2b family, which have not yet been precluded from subsequent energization, are now energized and held energized. Thus, relays ZaIII, ZaIV, 2bIII and 251V are energized and locked. If sweep connection S is next to become energized, only relays 411111 and 4bIII will be held against energization and two connections will remain. For the final team No. 4 and counter IV, all of the relays will be held out of circuit, and there will be no connections to corresponding counter line 13.

By way of further explanation, if the sequence of operation of the sweep connections is S S S 8;, the relays laIV, 1bIV, ZaIV, 2bIV, 3aIV, 3bIV for the counter line 13 will first be prevented from energization,

and six connections will remain. Relays 4a], 4aII, 4aIII, and 4bI, 4.511, 41711! will then be energized and held. Next, the relays laII, lbII, Sail, 3bII for the counter line 11- will be held against energization as connection S is activated, and four connections will remain; thereupon relays ZaI, ZaIII, and 2bI, 2bIII, not yet held fiom energization, will become energized. Next relays 141111 and lblII will be locked out by activation of connections etc. Thus, the appropriate match point score is obtained, namely, six counts for team 4, four for team 2, two for team 3, and none for team 1, corresponding to the sequence of energizationof the sweep lines S S S S Consider now the first illustration, the manner in which the relays of the set I are prevented from energization will now be presently described.

. Associated with each counter is a master relay network consisting of four relays numbered 1, 2, 3 and 4. There are two control bus bars 1a, 1b, 2a, 211, etc. for each of the counter circuits. All of the relays of the la family derive energization from the control line la; all of the relays of the 112 family derive energization from the control line 1b; etc. As the sweep connection S is energized, the control line 1a is energized, and all of the relays of the in family are attracted, subtracting one circuit from theremaining counter circuits 11, 12 and 13. The relay laII is ener ized via a lead 25, through a conductor 26, rectifier 27, ground control line G, back contact of relay 2 associated with counter II, to ground. The back contact of the relay laII accordingly moves from engagement and the connection is interrupted. The relay laII is held in engagement by' the aid of a front contact 26a which parallels the rectifier 2'7, ground control line G, and the back contact of its corresponding relay 2. The relay =1aII maintains its attracted position as long as there is a source of voltage at the control line In. Similarly, the

other relays of the la family for the successive circuits 3 and 4 become attracted.

Energization of the sweep line S also energizes a relay 1 in the control circuit for counter 1. A connection is established via back contact for relay 3, to line 1a, and thence to relay 1. Energization of relay 1 by way of a front contact 28 maintains a supply of voltage H at the control line 1a as well as to the relay 1. Engagement of master relay 1 for team No. 1 energizes its relay 2. Energization of relay 2 interrupts the connection between a ground 29 (corresponding to the ground connection described in connection with the master relay 2 for counter II) and the ground control line G for all of the servant relays of the set I. At this time, all of the servant relays of the set I are prevented from further energization as would otherwise occur by successive energization of the sweep connections S S and S 7 Energization of master relay 2 for counter I energizes its third master relay designated as 3. This interrupts the sweep connection S from the control line 1a but the holding contact 28 is at this time eifective. Accordingly, the holding contact 28 may connect with a low voltage source sufficient to maintain energization of all of the relays, and the power otherwise consumed by a high voltage source associated with sweep connection S need not be maintained. v Energination of relay 3 in turn energizes master relay 4, there being a front contact 30 associated with master relay 3 that connects through a front contact of master relay 2 to a source of voltage M3. dependent upon team No. 1 having registered some score. Momentarily the source via M1 is connected to the control line 1b via back contact 31 of master relay'4 and a connection32. All of the servant relays of the family 1b then become energized. A holding contact 3241 associated with master relay 3 also connects to the connection 32 and to the control line 1b upon energization of the master relay 3.

As master relay 4 becomes energized, the counter 1 is placed in operative position relative to the counter line 10, and the contact 31 is disengaged, leaving only the 4 holding voltage source H via contact 32a in conductive relationship with the control line 1b.

A resistor 33 cuts down the power consumption to master relay circuit 4 and introduces a slight time delay to ensure effective operation of the control line 1b via the high voltage source before disengagement of the back contact 31.

The operation of the other master relay circuits for counters II, III and IV will now be readily apparent. Thus, as the sweep connection S becomes operative, all of the servant relays of the family 2a, save, of course, that relay 2aI associated with the counter line 10 for counter I, will become energized. Finally, the servant relays of the family 2b, save the relay 2121 for counter I, will also be energized, etc.

The rectifiers 27 and similar rectifiers 27a prevent cross wiring shorts. Thus, the front contacts of the servant relays are prevented from providing paths to ground for the other relays. The pulse lines PIA, etc. cannot feed to other pulse lines. 1

It will be noted that there is a time delay between energization of the control lines 1a and 1b. This makes possible the appropriate operation in the event of tie scores. Thus, for example, it teams No. '1 and No. 2 are tied for the same score, the sweep connections S and S will become operative simultaneously. If these teams are tied for the top score, their score should be twice the number of teams beaten plus one for each other team tiedJ In the example now under consideration, the cor responding match point scores should be five each or the average between six and four,

As the circuits S and S are simultaneously energized, the control lines In and 2a are simultaneously energized and relays of the family 2a and 1a will be attracted. Thus, relays 2:11 and laII attract. By the time the control lines 1b and 2b become energized, the ground control lines G in the master relay circuits associated with the respective counters I and II have become disconnected. Hence, energization of the control lines 1b and 212 will be-inefiective to energize the relay lbII associated with team No. 2, and the relay 2bI associated with team No. 1. Hence, five relays for each of the circuits will remain deeenergized and prevented from further energization as by subsequent operation of the sweep circuits S and S4.

Although energization of the control lines 112 and 2b are ineffective for the relays 1111-1 and ZbI associated respectively with counters II and I, they are nevertheless effective on the remaining relays of family 1b and 2b. Hence, after sweep connections S and S have become energized, there will remain so far as teams No. 3 and team No. 4 are concerned only two connections each. The relative time of energizations of the sweep circuits S and 8.; will control which one of the sets of relays remain operative.

There is a time delay between energization of the control lines A, that is 1a, 2a, etc. and interruption of the corresponding ground control lines G. The purpose of this is to ensure energization of the servant relays of the family 1a, for example, for the remaining counters prior to the time that their ground connections are interrupted. There is also a time delay between interruption of the ground control lines and energization of the control lines 1b, 2b, etc. in order to allow for discrepancies between operating time of the relays 2.

Conveniently the master relays 1, 2, 3 and 4 interpose the required time delay and also serve as means for intenrupting the high voltage sources so that a of power consumption is all that is required.

A mechanism for operating the sweep lines S S S and S in sequence corresponding to the rank of scores is illustrated in my copending application Serial No. 691,414, filed October 21, 1957, and entitled Match Point Duplicate Bridge Scorer. There is also associated a contact arrangement for supplying the connections M1,

M2, M3 and M4, these connections being dependent upon the teams having played the particular board in question.

In FIG. 2, there is illustrated apparatus for providing pulses in sequence through the pulse bus bar Pla, Plb, P2a, P21), etc. There are arranged contact sets 40, 41, 42, extending about an axis 43. The outer contact of each set connects to a pulse line. For example, the outer contact for the set 40 connects to the pulse bar Pla; the outer contact for the succeeding contact set 41 connects to Plb; etc. The inner contacts are connected to the main gate connections M1, M1, M2, M2, M3, M3, etc. The contact sets are bridged in sequence by a brush 44 carried on a rotor 45 rotatable about the axis 43. When the sweep mechanism operative to provide a sequence of energization of the sweep connections S S S andS, has completed its cycle, the arm 44 moves from one limit of movement to the other so that the contact sets 40, 41, 42, etc. are successively bridged to provide pulses to the counter lines 10, 11, 12 and 13 via the pulse bus bars Pla, Plb, etc.

When the sweep mechanism for the sweep connection S S etc. nears the end of its cycle, a pulse is provided, as at connection 46, that starts a motor 47 upon which the rotor 45 is mounted. Two refrigerator-type, normally closed double-pole switches 48 and 49 have plungers interposed in the opposite paths of movement of the arm 45. In the position illustrated, the plunger 50 associated with the switch 49 is depressed by the brush 44, and the two circuits of the switch 49 are interrupted. However, the circuits associated with the opposite switch 48 are closed.

Upon the existence of a pulse connection 46, a relay F becomes energized and one line L2 of alternating current mains is connected to one side of a condenser 52, bridging control leads 53 and 54 of the motor 47 which is designed for reversible operation depending upon the side to which energization is supplied to the capacitor 52. For this purpose, the line L2 connects to a contact 55 engaged by an arm 56 on energization of the relay F and to a lead 57 to a point between the capacitor 52 and the control lead 53 of the motor 47. Energization of the relay F also operates a holding circuit dependent upon the switch 48 as follows: A source of direct current energization (assuming the relay F is of the direct current 7 type), a contact 58, arm 59 of the switch 48, contact 60, lead 61, arm 62 of the relay F, contact 63 and connection 64 to the relay F, and thence to ground connection 65.

Energization of the motor 47 serves to move the arm 44 away from the switch 49 and toward the switch 48. As the plunger of the switch 48 is engaged, the holding circuit associated with the arm 59 thereof is interrupted and the contacts 66 and 67, which must be bridged by the other arm 68 in order to initially energize the relay F, is likewise disconnected. The motor accordingly comes to a halt and contacts 70 and 71 corresponding to the contacts 66 and 67 are now bridged by the opposite switch 49 and the corresponding relay G is conditioned for operation at the end of the next cycle of the sweep mechanism, and by the connection 46. When this occurs, the line L2 via a front contact 72 and a connection 73 will be connected to the opposite side of the condenser 52 and reverse operation of the motor 47 will result.

In order to prevent the initial closure of the switch 49 (or, for that matter, initial closure of the switch 48) from energizing its corresponding relay, whereby the alternating current line L2 would be placed on both sides of the condenser 52, the initial energization circuits of the respective relays are dependent upon deenergization of the opposite relay. For this purpose, a third arm 75 of the relay F is provided and a third arm 76 of the relay G is provided. Initial energization of the relay F depends upon deenergization of the relay G. A connection 77 from the contact 67 proceeds through the back contacting arm 76 to the connection 64 and relay F. If the relay G is thus energized by connection of contacts 70 and 71 and the existence of a pulse at the connection 46, relay F is prevented from further energization until the cycle of the motor 47 is completed.

If, as is often the case, the total number of teams in a particular tournament is greater than the number of rounds of play of a particular board, some of the teams will not play some of the boards that are scored. Thus, for example, suppose it is desired that the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 is to score a board where only teams No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 play the particular board. In this case, the catch point maximum should be four points rather than six. In this instance, a sweep connection 8., will be ineffective, and all of the relays of the families 4a and 412 will remain deenergized. However, this will not spuriously add to the count by virtue of the fact that the pulse bus bar P4a and P45 are also ineifective, there being in this instance no pulse provided by the pulsing mechanism illustrated in FIG. 2. The reason for this is that the main connection M4 will be inoperative.

Hence, assuming that the teams rank for a particular board in which team No. 4 does not play in the sequence 1, 2 and 3, relays 2al, 2bI, 3aI, SbI, 4aI and 4bI will, as before, be prevented from further energization, but this will mean only four pulses will be applied to relays ZaI, 2bI, 3aI and 3bI. For team No. 2, relays 3aII, 3blI, 4011 and 4blI will remain deenergized, but pulses will be applied only through the relays 3aH and 3bII, etc. The counter for team No. 4, namely, the counter 1V, will be out of circuit with the counter line 13 by virtue of failure of the master relay section for team No. 4 to become energized. However, the relays laIV, 1bIV, 2aIV, 2bIV, 3aIV and 3bIV will have become energized and no pulses would normally reach the counter line 13. Relays of the family 4a and family 4b will be deenergized, but no pulses are fed through these relays.

The inventor claims:

1. In apparatus for assigning numerical values, by the aid of pulse counters, in accordance with the unpredictable sequence in which information, as in the form of pulses, reaches a series of terminals corresponding to the counters: a series of counters designated for reference herein I, II, III, IV etc.; a set of two state devices for each counter, and each occupying a first state until a pulse of energy .fiows relative to the device, unless locked in its said one state, and occupying a second state of placed in said second state until reset; the devices of the set for the first counter being designated for reference herein, ZaI, 2bI, 3aI, 3bI, 4aI, 4bI, etc.; the devices of the set for the second counter being designated for purposes of reference herein, 1aII, 21211, 31111, 31711, 41111, 4bl1, etc.; the devices of the sets for successive counters being similarly designated; there being two families of devices laII, laIII, IaIV, etc., and 1bII, lbIII, lbIV, etc. derived from said sets of devices and corresponding to counter No. I; there being two families of devices ZaI, ZaIlI, ZaIV, etc., and 2171, 217111, 2bIV, etc. derived fiom said sets of devices and corresponding to the counter No. II; there being two families of devices NaI, NaII, NaIII, Na(N-I) and NH, NbII, NbHI, Nb(NI) derived from said sets of devices and corresponding to the counter No. N; means operative in response to arrival of information at the terminal for each counter for routing energy pulses relative to the corresponding 0 family of devices, and at a predetermined time interval thereafter to lock the corresponding set of devices in their first positions, and thereafter for routing energy pulses relative to the corresponding 12 family of devices; and means applying to the pulse counters impulses and corresponding to the number of devices in its set that are in one of the two positions; and means for resetting said devices after pulses have been applied to said counters.

2. In apparatus for assigning numerical values, by the aid of pulse counters, in accordance with the unpredictable sequence in which information, as in the form of pulses, reaches. a series, of terminals corresponding to the counters: a series of counters designated for reference herein 1, II, III, IV, etc.; a set of two state devices for each counter, and each occupying a first state until aipulse' of energy flows relative to the device, unless locked in its said one state, and occupying a second state if placed in said second state until reset; the devices of the set for the first counter being designated for reference herein, 2aI, 2bI', 3aI,,3bI, 4aI, 4121, etc.; the devices of the set for the second counter being designated for purposes of reference herein, 1:111, 1121!, 3rd 3bII, 4alI, 4bII, etc.; the devices of the sets for successive counters being similarly designated; there being two families of devices laII, laIII, laIV, etc., and lbH, lbIII, lbIV, etc. derived from said sets of devices and corresponding to counter No. I; there'being two families, of devices 2aI, ZaHI, 2aIV, etc., and ZbI, ZbIII, 2bIV, etc. derived from said sets of devicesand corresponding to the counter No. H; there being two families of devices NaI, NaII, NaIII, Na(N-I) and NM, NbII, NbIII, Nb(N- I) derived from said sets of devices and corresponding to the counter No. N; means operative in response to arrival of information at the terminal for each counter for routing energy pulses relative to the corresponding a family of devices, and at a predetermined time interval thereafter to lock the corresponding set of devices in their first positions, and thereafter for routing energy pulses relative to the corresponding b family of devices; means for applying groups of pulses in time spaced sequence to the counters, one group comprising a pulse to each counter of the In family in one state, a second group comprising a pulse to each counter of the 1b family in one state, a third group comprising a pulse to each counter of the 2a family in one state, etc.; and means for resetting said devices after the groups of pulses have been applied to said counters.

3. In apparatus for assigning numerical values, by the aid of pulse counters, in accordance with the unpredictable sequence in which information, as in the form of pulse of energy flows relative to the device, unless locked in its said one state, and occupying a second state if placed in said second state until reset; the devices 'of the set for the first, counter being designatedfor reference herein, ZaI, ZbI, 3aI, =3bI, 4aI, 4M; etc.; the devices of the set for the second counter being designated for purposes of reference herein, fall, lbII, Sail, 3bII, 40H, 4bII, etc.; the devices of the sets for successive counters being similarly designated; there being two-families of devices laH, laIiI, laIV, etc., and 11211, lbi'I-I, lbIV, etc. derived from said sets of devices and corresponding to'counter No. I; there being two families of devices 2aI; 2am, ZaIV, etc, and 2M, Zbi II, ZbIV, etc. derived from said sets of devices and corresponding to the counter No. II; there being two families of devices NaLNaII, NaIII, Na(N-i) and Nb NbH, Nb-III, Nb(N-I) derived from said sets of devices and corresponding to the counter No. N; means operative in response to arrival of information at the terminal for each counter for routing energy pulses relative to the corresponding a family of devices, and at a predetermined time interval thereafter to lock the corresponding set of devices in their first positions, and thereafter'for routing energy pulses relative to the corresponding b family of devices; means for, applying groups of pulses in time spaced sequence to the counters, one group comprising a pulse to each counter of the la family that is in its first state and providing the team position number 1 is operative, a second group comprising a pulse to each counter of the 111 family that is in its first state and providing the teamposition number 1 is operative, a third group'comprising a pulse to each counter of the 2a family that is in its first state and proviiding the team position 2 is operative, a fourth group comprising apulse to each counter of the 2b family that is in its first state and providing the team position 2 is operative, a fifth group comprising a pulse to each counter of the 3a family that is inits first state and providing the team position 3 is operative, etc.; and means for resetting said devices after the groups of pulses have been applied to said counters.

Dana et a1. May V21, 1946 Reynolds Oct. 6, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 001,703 7 September 26, 1961 Frederick H. Flam It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patentrequiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as "corrected below. we

In the drawings Sheet 1, Fig. l in the lower right-=hand corner (the lowermost portion), for "YPla" read P410 column 1, line 24, strike out "match point scores for each board and; added up all the"; column 6 line l1 for :"catch"v read match line 20, for "teams"-" T read teams line 45 forffiof'" read if same column 6 line 50, for "2bII" read lbII Signed and sealed this 13th day of March 1962.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

